Signal



Lsmsw March 23 1.0926.

' T. l. TEMPLE SIGNAL Filed 0G11.v 2,4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TI?. L

INVENTOR. 7710/1/75 f. 7271,15.

M2M/z ATTORNEYS.

March 23 1926.

T. l. TEMPLE SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0G11. 24, 1924 INVENTOR.Manns j. 7ZWPL ATToRNEY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS I. TEMPLE, OF IN DIANPOLIS, INDIANA.'

SIGNAL.

Application :tiled October 24, 1924. Serial No. 745,705.

To all whom it may concern.' Be it known that I, THOMAS I. TmarLn, acitizen of the United States, and a res1dent of Indianapolis, county `ofMarion, and

` ment over the structure disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,468,763,issued September 25,

One lobject of the invention resides in the mounting of the signalelements in thedevice, whereby they will be yieldingly held in positionso as to give upon being struck by a vehicle, and thereby eliminatingthe danger of being broken. This is accomplished by means of a lspringseat adapted to normally maintain them within the device, so as toslightly protrude therefrom, but permitting them lto be readily forcedwithin the projection of the device upon a vehicle. coming in contacttherewith.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement andconstruction of the signal element, whereby the lens portion thereofwill deflect and spread the light raysv striking its outer surface so asto cause said light rays to be diffused within the inner chamber, theinner chamber being provided with a reflecting surface which willfurther cause the diffusion or spreadingV of -the light rays so as toilluminate the entire surface ofthe lens portion of the signal to themaximum degree.

'The full nature of thev invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims: v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the signal device.Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line3--3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is' a plan view looking toward the reary surfaceof the lens. Fig..5 is a central vertical section therethrough. Fig. 6is a plan view looking at the reflecting surface of the cupped shapemember. -Fig.'7 is a central vertical section therethrough. Fig. 8 is aperspective view showing a modified form of'sgnal device. Fig. 9 isalarge front elevation of one of the letters mounted therein. Fig. 10 isa section taken on the line 10w-10 of Fig. 9.

-In the drawings there is shown a signal device comprising asubstantially hemispherical casting 10 having radially-extendingsignal-receiving projections 11 formed thereon. Said casting is providedwith downwardly-extending lugs 12 for anchoring the same in the surfaceof the street in which it is mounted. The radially-extendingprojection-s 11 are provided with openings 13, and enclose lasubstantially cylindrical recess or barrel for reception of the signalelement.

The signal element consists of a substantially cup-shaped member ofappreciable depth having its out'er periphery provided with a seat 14for reception of the bulls `eye lens 15. Said lens is provided with aconvex outer surface and a convex inner surface of greater radius ofcurvature, said inner surface having formed thereon an annular diffusionring 16 concentric with the annular edge of the lens. Said ring isformed to project inwardly frcm the inner surface of the lens and isslightly curved in cross section so that the thickness and curvature ofthe lens at that point will be increased and varied. Thus the light raysprojected against the outer surface of the lens, and passingtherethrough, will 'be directed at varying angles and accordinglydiffused into the receiving chamber of the metallic cup-like member 17.The rear surface ofthe 'cup-like member 17, being spaced from the innersurface of the lens, is adaptedto receive the light rays projectedtherethrough and cause the same to;

be reflected back through the lens. Said reflecting surface is comprisedof a plurality ofv concentric rings 18 associated together so as to forma series of projections and depressions in cross section, thus causingthe entire reflecting surface tol be of a concentric wavy-likeformation. This results in the light rays striking said surface beingreiiected at varying angles, thereby causing the spreading and diffusionthereof throughout the chamber formed by said member. By means of thespreading and diffusion of the light rays throughout the interior of-said member, the entire surface of. the lens will be equallyilluminated,

although therays may be projected thereon Vat an angle from one sidethereof.l

One of said cup-shaped members and lenses is mounted in each of saidprojecting portions 11 of the casting l0, so that the convex curvedsurface of the lens protrudes through the opening 13, and is preventedfrom passing therethrough by an annular retaining ring 19. Thecup-shaped member extends rearwardly towards the center of the castingand is yieldingly engaged vby a spring 20 which is adapted to seatagainst acentral retaining plug 21. By means of this arrangement thecomplete signal element is yieldingly retained in normal position sothat the lens may protrude from its socket in the casting for receivinglight rays directed toward it from the side, while being capable ofreceding within the casting for protection against breakage in event itis engaged by a vehicle. The central plug 21 is adapted to receive abolt 22 having a T-head for centrally anchoring the device to theground, the casting being provided with a recess 24 for receiving a nut25 adapted to screw on the threaded end of said bolt for removablysecuring the casting thereto and maintaining the central plug 21 inposition against the tension of the springs 20.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the casting 110 isprovided with the projecting portions 111 for receiving the letters 115in place of the bulls eye lens, said ltters being formed with a curvedprojecting convex outer surface and a corresponding convex inner surfaceof greater radius of curvature, said inner surface being provided with aplurality of projecting diusion ribs 116 formed thereon, as abovedescribed, and also being formed with rearwardly extending sides 117 forproviding a light-receiving chamber of appreciable depth. Clamped aboutthe beaded edge of the letter-forming lens there is a metallicreflecting surface 1184 having longitudinali extending corrugations forcausing the light rays projected thereagainst to be spread laterally soas to illuminate the entire surface of the letterforming lens.

The invention claimed is: j

1. In a signal device, a ysignal element comprising a metalliccup-shaped reflecting member of substantial depth, a lens mounted in theopen end of said member, and a plurality of coneent-ric diffusion ringsformed in the reflecting surface thereof and spaced from said lens forreceiving and diffusing the light rays 'throughout s aid'element.

2. In a signal device, a signal element comprising a metallic cup-shapedreflecting member of substantial depth, a lens mounted in the open endof said member, a plurality of concentric diffusion rings formedthroughout `the entire reflecting surface of said member and lyingadjacent each other for providing alternate curved projections andrecesses in cross section, whereby the light rays received by saidsurface will be reflected and directed at varying angles so as to becaused to be spread and diused throughout said member, and an annulardiffusing and spreading ring formed on the inner surface of said lensadjacent the periphery thereof, said ring bein curved in cross sectionso as to spread an diuse the light rays passing through said lens fromone side thereof.

- 3. A signal device comprising a base casting having radially extendingchambers formed therein, a signal element dapted to seat in each of saidchambers so that a portion thereof protrudesA beyond said base casting,a central plug adapted to be removably inserted in said casting, and a sring mounted between said plug and each o said elements for normallymaintaining them in seated position and permitting them to be forcedinto said casting for protection.

In witness whereof, ll have hereunto a'fixedmy signature.

THOMAS l. TEMPLE.

